Spinel is a symbol of power, victory and new hope. Spinel is also a birthstone for August together with Peridot and Sardonyx.   Spinel is becoming high in demand by high-end jewelers. Spinels have several hues including red, pink, lilac and blue which are highly sought after in the market.   The most famous 170cts […]

Peridot is called the “gem of the sun” by Egyptians. Peridot has always been associated with light. Peridot is one of the birthstones for August. Other August birthstone are Spinel and Sardonyx.   FORMATION   Peridot is a mineral Olivine. Mohs Hardness ranges from 6.5 to 7 and its Toughness is Fair to Good.   […]

Opals display a phenomenon known as play-of-color. When an Opal has play-of-color, it is categorized as precious opal. The main categories of precious opal are white, black, boulder, and crystal or water. Fire opal, also known as Mexican Opal, sometimes does not show play-of-color.   How Opals Formed   Opal is the result of seasonal […]

Conch “pearls,” calcareous concretions produced by the Queen conch mollusk, formerly known as Strombus Gigas or more recently as Lobatus Gigas, has mostly a very attractive pink color that may be enhanced by a characteristic silky-looking “flame structure”. Some conch “pearls” show a smooth and shiny porcelain-like luster that makes very attractive.   Although they […]

By: Diane Nicole Go, GIA Graduate Gemologist   Sapphire may be known for its blue color, but lately, its rainbow counterpart (link to Rainbow Sapphire article) has become a popular choice for candy-colored jewelry pieces. That’s because sapphires are durable and almost as hard as a diamond— and a colorful option at that.   Sapphires […]